Sassuolo have reportedly failed to agree terms with Marco Giampaolo, so are now battling Sampdoria for Empoli coach Alessio Dionisi.
Giampaolo had seemingly been all set for the Neroverdi job, replacing Roberto De Zerbi after his move to Shakhtar Donetsk.
However, Sky Sport Italia suggest this evening there have been problems and Sassuolo are turning elsewhere.
They are now instead the favourites to sign Dionisi, who just earned promotion from Serie B with Empoli.
Sampdoria had long been targeting Dionisi and were trying to prise the 41-year-old away from his current club.
Empoli have him under contract until June 2022 and don’t want to let the tactician go after he secured their promotion.